Cash-for-vote scam: Andhra Pradesh is hiding Jerusalem Mathaiah, ACB tells Hyderabad HC

Hyderabad: The TS Anti Corruption Bureau on Tuesday took serious exception to the AP government giving shelter to Jerusalem Mathaiah, one of the accused in the cash-for-vote scam. The ACB filed two counter-affidavits at the Hyderabad High Court opposing the bail applications of TD legislator A. Revanth Reddy and Bishop Harry Sebastian and Uday Simha, two other accused.

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The ACB said investigations had revealed that Mathaiah was a key abettor. Providing shelter to an absconding accused by a state is unknown and strange in a democratic and law abiding country like India, it said.

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The ACB contended that propriety required the AP government to inform the investigating agency when it comes to know of the whereabouts of an absconding accused.

The bureau urged the High Court not to grant bail to Revanth Reddy and others till Mathaiah is arrested, as he is the key factor who could help unravel the case. The ACB said it was still to obtain forensic experts reports. There was every possibility of witnesses being influenced and evidence being tampered if the accused get bail pending the arrest of Mathaiah.

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In another counter affidavit filed against the quash plea of Mathaiah, the ACB contended that examining the petitioner was crucial to the investigations. The ACB urged the court to direct the petitioner to surrender before the investigation agency and cooperate with it. Justice Raja Elango will hear the bail petitions of Revanth Reddy and two other accused on Wednesday.

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